Sakho: Each Game Is All About The Three Points

Mamadou Sakho comes up against his former club Liverpool at Selhurst Park tonight believing that the Eagles can build on the recent run which has seen them record four consecutive top-flight wins.

The French defender has been impressed with the progress of the club over the summer. “Our squad was good but with these quality players we can only be better, and together we will work hard to try and get our best season," he said.

“Every season is different, we have some new players but we also lost some so we go with a new squad and we need to work together and try to be better than we were.”

Fellow defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is someone who has been impressing Sakho since the 20-year-old was given his opportunity by Roy Hodgson last season.

“Last year when he started his first game he looked like he had five or six years’ experience," Sakho added. "I am really happy when I see a young player coming in and playing good because they are the future. It’s really good for him and I hope he will continue to help our team by giving us his best.

“You all have to start one day. We have experienced players and we can speak with him and give him advice to improve.”

Two new contracts being signed in the last couple of weeks have been the perfect boost at the start of the season. Hodgson put pen to paper on a new deal prior to the opening day win at Fulham, and that was quickly followed up with Wilfried Zaha committing his future to the club with a new five-year contract, pleasing Sakho.

“It’s great the club have kept this kind of player, it’s really good for us, the fans and it’s really important because he has had a really good story with this club. Our squad need him and he’s a quality player so congratulations to the gaffer and the owners on keeping him. The most important thing now is we all go on together to make a great season.”

Tonight the centre-half comes up against his former club, and Liverpool are already being touted as one of the favourites to challenge for the title after they kicked off in impressive style with an opening weekend 4-0 defeat of West Ham United.

Despite that, Sakho is going into the game like it’s any other as he is not a player who pays too much attention to coming up against a team he knows well.

“I always think about the next game and try and give my best to win because each game is three points. We have one objective when we are on the pitch”, he said.

“In life you have to look for the future and not at past results. This time Liverpool will have a different team and Palace so it’s a new season and we look ahead.”

Tonight sees the Eagles aiming to equal their Premier League club record of eight games unbeaten set from November to December 2017 and after the work in the transfer window Sakho believes that there are plenty of reasons to be positive for the months ahead.

“When we have had the chance to keep the stability in our squad it shows the objective for this year and we want to try to be aiming to be the same or better than last year.”